Gauri – the very word conjures up colourful images of a lovable brat in my mind.The talented, good looking, highly intelligent, friendly, open-minded typical teenage daughter of my friend S is all this and much more.As a young kid she was my student for four years and now she isa friend for life. As a baby she was an artist’s perfect model for Sri Krishna- – dark curly hair, lovely large eyes, bud-like mouthand PRANKSTER written all over her face. Full of mischief –she grew up to be the neighbourhood Princess Naughtiness. She has always been game to meeting new people and makes friends easily. She started school and we never heard of any starting trouble . Her area of influence had just got enlarged and she was happier there. The arrival of a sibling kept her in good spirits as she now had a handy comrade !She joined our school after two years of study in a kindergarten. By now she had two thick , long plaits and her features now resembled that of an image of Goddess Lakshmi. Her talent in singing and drawing surfaced and she won many contests in and out of the school. Her drawings had her special brand written all over it…as if they were watermarked –Gauri… I remember she once made a market scene and embellished it with images of a torn market bag with veggies falling out, an adamant kid throwing a tantrum; filth of old vegetables….She was just 7 or 8 then.She sang Marathi abhangs and patriotic songs well and had a wonderful handwriting. She now sings pop ! She started taking Indian dance and music lessons. She took part in many co-curricular competitions. She was always a part of the school choir and dance team .

When asked in tests to make sentences she made humourous ones.I would wait to read her creative paragraphs and letters.She writes with a dash of humour and sees all situations with a tangential view. I mean her way of looking at things is slightly off beat–but in rhythm ! If the majority of her classmates viewed a particular teacher as a bore or as ineffectual, she would come up with legitimate ,positive things of those very same personalities and she would always highlight their virtues. Even in the midst of a mob she never lost her identity. This doesn’t mean she stood out like asore thumb and became boring.On-the contrary she was popular with her peers but remained true to what she believed in.She made her own rules-be it in studies or in dress and behaviour.(Though this gave my friend sleepless nights and restless days…)She didwell in her + 2 exams and in AIEEE and has joined an institute of repute.

.She can endear herself to anyone from a kid to a senior citizen. She is a great friend of V-though elder to him by five years .They are so alike that strangers often ask if they are siblings .It is more a resemblance of spirit than physical similarities.

Last Sunday I attended a Satyanarayan pooja in my neighbourhood.It was celebrated on a grand scale though the ‘yajmaan ‘ had planned it to be a small affair initially.

When I reached the house where it was being performed,the little drawing room was transformed into a wonderful pandal.Coconut and mango leaves had worked wonders.Colurful lights and streamers added to the beauty.The photo of Sri Satyanarayan was surrounded by idols of other gods.Mats of various hues were spread for us to sit on.I just peeped into the kitchen to say ‘hello’ to the lady of the house..I was surprised to see all her neighbours busy chopping veggies/ mixing the dough/ stirring huge pans full of curry….

The bhatji- as the aachar is called here arrived from Sanquelim which is a good 50 kms away from my place.He conducted the pooja in a dignified manner.His instructions were in Hindi for the benefit of the Yajmaan,in Konkani for the Y’s wife and in Marathi for the lady who was helping them.Added to this he conversed in Kannada with my husband in between to clarify his methods!

The pooja was done to the satisfaction of the Konkani family who brought him down, to the satisfaction of the Telugu family which performed it and to the satisfaction of all of us who had gathered there.

The story was narrated in Samskrit and the meaning told in a mixture of Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and English!
We were then given gifts.(Yeah,I too was surprised.)Then the hosts started the preparations for serving a traditional lunch.Banana leaves and disposable tumblers arrived.
The vegetable curries, then the pulao, the plain rice the dal and ghee over it,the kesari bhaat,the prasaada….
Why I called it the pan S pooja is this great variety in food items, the languages used, the cooks who prepared the food…

The Tamilian neighbour had prepared the pulao, The Marathi speaking neighbour had prepared the K. bhaat, one curry was Andhra style the other was typical Goan saraswat style!The style and order of serving the dishes were also truly Indian!!The Malayaali neighbour made the poories .

There was an air of inclusiveness(?) and acceptance apart from the bonhomie and liveliness of a sarvajanik utsav.
I came home feeling elevated mentally and I am sure it was not just because of the pooja.

I sat through the entire WI innings-though it was a working day today.Hats off to C. Gayle.There was never a dull moment.Paisa Vasool!!He richly deserved the Man of the match award. He made the match memorable. I will remember this effort for the remaining years of my life .He is going to be praised by the laymen ,armchair – critics , aficionados …

But very few will praise the cheerleaders who were gyrating throughout the match.They didn’t have a break at all.I wonder if they used Mirakul oil /painkillers at the end of the match.